Automatic talking-machine



E. ALBRECHT. AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLl-C'ATlON FILED SEPT. 25, I917.

Q MOL I I I ATTORNEYS E.ALB'RECHT AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1917.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2- llgffl l/ll/lll/ R E m lNVEN-TOR ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT. AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25; 1911.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION-FILED sEPT.25. 1917.

1,358,185. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4- i 0 V4 m7 fig 5 A /7 2 15/ INVENTOR' W 7 ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, I91?- 0 2 9 5 1T a 9 H 4 V 8 OT Nu m INVENTOR ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION'HLED SEPT.25, 1917.

1,358, 1 85 Patented Nov. 9, 1920 9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 25. 1917.

1,358,185. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7- ATTORNEYS E. ALBRECHT.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1917.

1,35 ,185, "PatentedNov. 9,1920.

QSHEETS-SHEET a.

III;

% REVOLUTION.

' ATTORNEYST EDWARD ALBRECHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TALKING-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed September 25, 1917. Serial No. 193,069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ALBRECHT, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city and county of Philadelphia, tate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and use ful Automatic Talking-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

' My present invention comprehends a novel automatic sound reproducing mechanism or talking machine for the playing of records of the disk type, wherein provision is made for automatically effecting the playing of each side of the records and wherein the parts are constructed in such a manner that they can be artistically arranged within a caslng having the exterior appearance of a baby grand piano, although, as is apparent any other desired contour may be given to the casing of the machine.

Amongv the numerous objects of my invention, I desire to direct particular attention to the novel means which I have devised for arresting the movement of the machine in case a record is not in position on the turntable; the novel means for effecting the transfer of a predetermined record from a record magazine to the turntable and the return of the record from the turntable to its proper compartment in the record magazine; the novel construction and arran ement of the record ma azine and the novel means for feeding it whereby each side of the record is automatically played; the novel means whereby the position of the record magazine controls the signboard to visibly indicate the selection which 1s being played; the novel means for effecting a manual adjustment of the record magazine when it is desired to play a special selection; the novel construction and arrangement of the repeating mechanism whereby any desired selection may be automatically repeated; the novel construction and arrangement of the signboard and 1ts operating means; the novel means employed for returning the sound box to its initial.-

or starting position; the novel construction and arrangement of the cooperating elements of the different mechanisms, whereby they come into operation at the proper time; and the novel means employed for rendering the machine automatic and foolproof.

Other numerous novel features of constructlon and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment of it which is at present preferred by me, since this embodiment will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a talking machine embodying my invention, the top of the casing having been removed for the sake of clearness of illustration, and the shaft 14 being shown in section.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation of my device, the section being taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 represents. in side elevation, the operative mechanism of the machine, the casing having been removed and certain parts beingbroken away for the, sake of clearness of illustration.

Fig. 4 represents, in front elevation, a portion of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 represents a plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing more clearly certain parts of the record ejector mechanism.

Fig. 6 represents, in side elevation and on an enlarged scale, the means employed for preventing the feed of the record magazine.

Fig. 7 represents, in side elevation, the means'for effecting the feed of the record magazine, certain of the bearings being shown in section.

Fig. 8 represents a sectional of the construction seen in Fig.

Fig. 9 represents, on an enlarged scale, a section on line 9-9 of Fig. '3.

Fig. 10 represents, in side elevation, certain of the cams and their adjuncts employed.

Fig. 11 represents a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 represents a side elevation of the plan view means employed for locking the repeating key in its operative position.

Fig. 16 represents a sectional plan view of the transfer mechanism, showing the parts in the position they assume upon a half revolution of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 17 represents a top plan view of the parts seen in Fig. 14 in the position they assume after a three-quarters revolution of the transfer arms.

Fig. 18 represents an end elevation of certain portions of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 19 represents a wiring diagram of the signboard or record indicating mechanism.

Fig. 20 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of the contact mechanism carried by the carriage of the record magazine in its inoperative position.

Fig. 21 represents a sectional elevation, showing the 'parts seen in Fig. 20 and in addition a portion of one of the rollers which actuate the contacts to effect the 'closing of the circuit.

1 Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts. Referring to the drawings My present invention, in its broad aspects, comprises several distinct sets of mechanism which cooperate andv are de'- pendent upon each other to produce the ultimate objects or results sought for, and I will therefore as far as practicable describe each of them in detail and in the natural or logical sequence in which they are thrown into operation in the operation of automatically reproducing the records. In these broad aspects, my novel machine embodies a suitable frame or framework upon or within which is mounted or carried, respectively, the driving mechanism for the record magazine, and its adjuncts, the means for ejecting a record from the magazine, the transfer mechanism which receives a record from the record magazine, the registering devices for placing the record on the turntable and removing it therefrom, the means for raising the sound box from operative engagement with the record, returning it to its initial or starting position and lowering it again into engagement with the record, the driving means for the turntable; the manually controlled repeating mechanism; and the record signboard or indicating device and its controlling means.

The frame of the machine.

. the artistic appearance of the machine.

The frame of the machine comprises supporting standards 1 which carry a base 2 to which are connected the uprights 3 which are reinforced by means of cross bars 4, it

' being understood that the skeleton framework thus formed is braced and reinforced in any desired manner. This skeleton framework in practice can be inclosed by an outer casing of any desired nature, and

' serves as a support for the operating mechanism of the machine.

The driving mechanism for the record magazine.

In accordance with my present invention, the records are stored in a magazine which isautomaticallyadvanced so that the records are successively brought into proper position to be transferred to the turntable. The record magazine may be driven by any desired type of a prime mover, and for con venience of illustration, I have shown an electric motor 5, see Fig. 3, having a worm shaft 6 which meshes with a gear 7 mounted on a stud shaft 8. The stud shaft 8 has mounted thereon a pinion 9 which meshes with a gear 10 mounted on a stud shaft 11 journaled in the frame of the machine. The shaft 11 is provided with a pinion 12 which meshes with a gear 13 which is loosely mounted on a shaft 14 journaled in the machine frame.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 14 is a ratchet 15 which is connected to the gear 13 or formed integral therewith. The shaft 14 has fixed thereon a disk 16 to which is pivoted a spring pressed pawl 17 which at certain times is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 15 and interlock therewith. The shaft 14 has fixed thereon a cam drum 18, see more particularly Figs. 3, 7 and 8. The drum 18 has on its periphery the plates 19 which form a cam groove 20.

21 designates a roller which is carried at the end of a lever 22 andadapted to engage the walls of the cam groove 20. The lever 22 is fulcrumed at 23 in the machine frame. The lever 22 has pivoted thereto the feed pawls 24 and 25 which are spaced from each other. The pawl 24 is pivoted at its lower end to the lever 22 and its upper end is provided with a pin 26 forming a stop. The feed pawl 25 is also provided at its upper end with a' pin 27 serving as a stop.

28 designates an arm or slide which is guided in bearings 29 which are carried by the lever 22. The slide 28 is provided with a lug 30 cotiperating with the stop pin 26 and a lug 31 cooperating with the stop pin 27. 32 designates a spring, one end of which is connected with the bearings 29 while its opposite end is connected to the slide 28, so that the tension of such spring tends to move the slide forward.

In order to hold the stop pins 26 and 27 against the lugs 30 and 31, respectively, I provide a spring 33, the ends of which are connected to such stop pins. The rear end of the slide 28 has pivoted thereto one end of a bell-crank lever 34 which is pivotally carried by the lever 22.

The slide 28 is provided with a depend ing lug 35, with which is adapted to interlock at a certain time the pawl 36 pivotally carried by the lever 22. The pawl is maintained in the position seen in Fig. 7 by means of a lever 37 which is pivoted at 38 to the machine frame, see more particularly Figs. 1 and 2. One arm of this lever extends beneath the pawl 36 so that when the parts are in the position seen in F 7, the pawl is out of engagement with the lug 35.

39 designates a detent disk which is fixed on a shaft 40 journaled in the machine frame. This detent disk 39 is provided with pins '41 with which the pawls 24 and 25 are adapted to cooperate to effect the rotation of the shaft 40. The disk 39 is provided with peripheral recesses 42 corresponding in number to the number of pins 41 and adapted to receive a roller 43 which is carried by a detent lever 44 pivoted to the machine frame and provided with a spring 45 which tends to cause the roller 43 to move into a recess 42. The shaft 40, see Fig. 8, has mounted thereon a gear 46 which meshes with a pinion 47 which is fixed to a screw 48 journaled in bearings 49 carried by the stationary track forming rails 50 which are fixed to the machine frame in any desired manner.

The record m gazine.

The record magazine is of skeleton formation-and is constructed in such a manner that the record will be retained therein in an upright position in order to prevent the warping of the records such as would otherwise occur in case the records were stored flat and superimposed above each other. The feed magazine consists of a carriage v which is provided with the end bottom rails engage the under face of the rails 50 and retain the carriage at all times in proper position with respect to such rails, see Fig. 2. The bars 53 have connected thereto in any desired manner the upper record tracks or record guides 56, see Fig. 2, which consist of a strip of material, preferably U-shaped in cross section and provided near their rear ends with depending lugs 57 which serve as stops to limit the rearward movement of a record 58. The lower tracks or record guides 59 are formed in sections, the fixed section thereof being connected with the bars 53 and inclining rearwardly and downwardly. The movable section 60 of such lower track is hinged to the fixed section and is normally maintained in its operative position by means of a spring 61. The movable section 60 inclines upwardly and at its rear end is extended and deflected outwardly, as indicated at 62, in order to form a presser piece adapted to receive the hand of the operator when it is desired to manually remove from or insert a record into its proper compartment. The carriage is provided with a nut 63 with which engages the screw 48 in order to effect the au tomatic or manual feed of the magazine. The outer end of the screw 48 is provided with a handle 64, see Fig. 1, in order to provide for its manual adjustment, when desired, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Means for ejecting a record from its magazme.

I provide means for effecting the automatic ejection of the selected record from the magazine and the construction for effecting this operation will be more clearly understood by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The shaft 14, see Fig. 5, is also journaled in a bar 65 and is provided with a wiper 66 which has mounted thereon a roller 67, which is adapted to enter one of the slots 68 in a star wheel 69 which is fixed to a gear 70 loosely mounted on the stud shaft 71 carried by the bar 65 of the framework. The star wheel 69 is provided with, in the present instance, four radial slots 68, which are arranged at equal distances apart and as shown, their juxtaposed slots are 90 apart. The gear 70 meshes with a pinion 72 on which is eccentrically mounted a connecting rod 73 which is also connected to a slide 74, which is provided on its under face with a rack 75 which meshes with a segment 76 of an arm 77, pivoted at 78 to the framework of the machine. The arm 77 at its free end is provided with a laterally extending roller 79 which is adapted to engage the periphery of a record 58 to effect its ejection from the record magazine. The arm 77 passes between adjacent record retaining strips 56.

The record receiving compartments formed by the top and bottom members 56 and 59 are braced by means of the bars 80 and 81 connected to such members. The bottom of the carriage of the record magazine is provided at its rear end with a depending lug 82 and at its forward end with a depending lug 83 which contact with an upwardly extending arm of the lever 37, in order to adjust its position and automatically actuate the switch 221, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

The transfer mechanism.

The shaft 14 has mounted thereon, see more particularly Figs. 1 and 3, a wiper 84 having positioned thereon the rollers 85 and 86 which are adapted to enter at certain times the radial slots 87 in a star wheel 88 which is fixed to a gear 89 loosely mounted on a shaft 235 journaled in the frame of the machine. The star wheel is provided with four radial slots 87 equally spaced from each other. The gear 89 meshes with the gear 90 fixed to a shaft 91 mounted in the bearing 92 carried by the framework of the machine. The shaft 91 has loosely mounted thereon a gear 93 which is fixed to the bearing 92 in any desired manner and as shown by means of a set screw 94. The gear 93 is in the form of a mutilated gear and its teeth are adapted to mesh with a gear 95 fixed to a shaft 96 which is journaled in an enlargement 97 of the shaft 91 The shaft 96 has fixed thereto a detent disk 98 having peripheral recesses 99, see more particularly Fig. 18, four of these recesses being shown in the present instance. 100 designates a detent arm, one end of which is pivoted to the bearing 97 and its opposite end is provided with a roller 101 adapted to enter a recess 99 due to the tension of a spring 102, one end of which is connected to said detent arm 100 and the other end of which is connected to the bearing 97. In order to increase the tension on the detent arm 100 at certain periods in the operation, I provide a spring 103, one end of which is connected.

with the arm 100, and its free end rides on the upper face of a plate 104 which is fixed to the bearing 92. The plate 104 is cut away on opposite sides, as indicated at 105 in order that the tension of the spring 103 will be relieved during the period when the detent disk 98 and shaft 96 are rotating.

The shaft 96 is provided at its free end with ahead 106 in which are pivoted the transfer arms 107 which form the record holders which are provided with a circular recess 108 to receive a record 58. 109 designates a spring, the ends of which are connected to opposite arms 107 and which tends to move such arms toward each other. in

order to clamp the record therebetween. The arms 107 are recessed as indicated at 110 to receive certain of the record supporting and registering pins 111, see more particularly Figs. 1 and 2. Each arm 107 near its rear end is provided with a lug 112, see Figs. 3 and 14.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 14, the drum 18 is provided with a cam 113, which rocks a lever 114 pivoted to the machine frame connected with one end of a link 115, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a pawl 116 fixed to a rock shaft 117 journaled in the machine frame,-and to which a second pawl 116 is fixed in order that such pawls will engage the lugs 112 and effect the opening and closing of the transfer arms 107. 118 designates a spring, one end of which isfixed to the link 115, and its opposite end is connected to a fixed portion of the framework.

In order to effect the opening of the transfer arms when they have been moved into a vertical position ready to receive a record from the record magazine, as will be hereinafter more clearly set forth in the description of the operation, I provide a rock arm 119 which is fixed to a rock shaft 120 journaled in the machine frame. The shaft 120 has connected therewith an arm 121 which carries the roller 122 which rides on a cam 123 on the bottom of the drum 18, see Fig. 4. The rock arm 119 bears against the lug 112 carried by the lower transfer arm 107 to move it downwardly so that the record ejected from the magazine will roll into the transfer arms. The roller 122 is maintained against the drum 1? by means of a spring 124 secured, for example, to the rock arm 119 .and to a fixed portion of the machine frame.

Driving mechanism for the turntable.

I provide a separate prime mover for effecting the rotation of the turntable and the removal from the turntable and the placing thereon of a record. For convenience of illustration, I have shown an electric motor 125, see Fig. 2, which is provided with a worm shaft 126 which meshes with a worm wheel 127 secured to a shaft 128 journaled in the machine frame and which carries'the turntable 129 which receives the record.

Record positioning mechanism.

The pins 111 which effect the placing of a record from the transfer arms on to the turntable and the removal of a record from the turntable into a position to be engaged by the transfer arms are carried by a spider 130, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the hub of which is loosely mounted on a sleeve 131 surrounding the shaft 128. In order to prevent rotation of the spider 130, a guide pin 132 is provided,

which engages the walls of an aperture 133 in an auxiliary frame 134 carried by the framework of the machine. The spider 130 has depen'ding therefrom the links 135, which are pivoted at their lower ends to a lever 136, see Fig. 4, which is ful'crumed in the machine frame and is provided at its free ends with a roller 137 whichcoiiperates witha cam 138 mounted on the periphery of the drum 18. The drum 18 is provided with a contact ring 139 which is insulated, as at 140, thus leaving a single contact portion on its periphery, so that the circuit will be closed on a complete revolution of the drum .through the brushes 141 and 142, it being understood that these brushes are carried by a stationary portion of the frame in any desired manner, thus providing means to automatically effect the starting and stopping of 20 the electric motor 125 and the revolution of the turntable, as is evident.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 9, the shaft 128 has fixed thereto a pinion 143 which meshes with a gear 144 which is loosely mounted on the stud shaft 145 carried by the machine frame. The gear. 144 is provided with an internal ratchet 146. 147

Sound 50m positioning mechanism.

The plate 147 also carries a cam 150, see Figs. 9 and 10, the function of which is to return the tone arm and sound box to their initial or starting position. The cam 149 is engaged by a roller 151 carried by an arm 152 fixed to a shaft 153 journaled in the machine frame and to this shaft 153 is also fixed an arm 154 which is bifurcated at its upper ends to receive a pin 155 carried by an arm 156 fixed to a rock shaft 157 journaled in the machine frame. Y

158 designates armsfixed to the rock shaft 157 and connected at their forward ends by a cross bar 159, see Fig. 1. The gooseneck of the sound box has connected thereto an arm 160, the free end of which passes beneath the cross bar 159 so that when the cross bar 159 is lowered. the sound box will be raised out of engagement with the record.

161 designates a lever pivoted to the machlne frame and provided witha roller 162 which bears against the peripheryof the cam 150. The free end of the lever 161 is provided with a pin 163 which bears'against an arm 164,.one end of which is pivoted to the machine frame. The arm 164 is normally maintained against the pin 163 by means of a spring 165, one end of which is connected to such arm 164 and the other end is connected to a fixed portion of the frame.

166' designates a stop to limit the movement of the arm 164 in one direction. 167 designates a bell-crank lever pivoted to the machine frame and having one arm cut away to form a shoulder, as indicated at 168, so that it will bear against the arm 164 and maintain it in the position seen in Fig. 9 during certain periods in the operation of the machine. The upper end of the bellcrank lever 167 is laterally deflected and in the path ofan arm 169 which is fixed to the tone arm and moves with it.

170 designates a spring, see Fig. 4. one end of which is connected to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever 167 and the other end of which is connected to a fixed portion of the machine. The lever 161, see Figs. 2

and 9, is fixed to a shaft 171 journaled in the machine frame and provided at its upper end with an arm 172 which carries an upwardly projecting pin 173 which engages the arm 169 to return the sound box to its starting position. and during the playing of a record, this pin 173 is free to move away from the arm 169, due to the movement of the cam 150. 174 designates the sound box which is connected in the usual or conventional manner to the tone arm 175 which communicates with the amplifier 176 which may be of the internal or external type of horn.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 9 and 10. the disk 147 is provided with a single tooth 177 which isadapted at certain times to trip the arm of a bell'crank lever 178 which is fulcrumed on a stud shaft 179. The bell-crank lever 178 has pivoted thereto one end of a lever 180, the movement of which in one direction is limited by a stop 181 and in its opposite direction by a stop 182. 183 designates a spring connected with the levers 180 and 178 and tending to move the lever 180 toward the stop 182. The bellcrank lever 178 has connected to its upper arm one end of a. spring 184. the other end of which is connected to the lever 178 and its other end to a fixed portion of the machine.

185 designates a stop lever pivoted in the machine frame and having its forward end adapted to contact withthe lever 180 and to retain it in a position to prevent the pawl 17 engaging the internal ratchet 15.

Repcatin f/ m ecbnm'mn.

The lever 185 is actuated by an arm 186 which is carried by a rock shaft 187 which is provided exterior of the machine framework with an actuating handle 188. 18,-) designates a ratchet fixed to the shaft 187 and having a single tooth which is adapted Means for stopping the machine if a record is not placed on the turntable.

The rock shaft 187 has fixed thereon an arm 193 to which is connected one end of a spring 194, the other end of which is fixed to a fixed point of the machine frame. The arm 193 presses against one arm of a lever 195 which can be moved into or out of the path of the pawl 148. The lever 195 is also provided with an arm which carries the pin 196 which bears against an arm 197 which is connected to a shaft 198 which at its upper end is provided with an arm 199 which carries an upwardly projecting pin 200, which is in the path of a record when it has been moved into registering position with the turntable. The pin200 is normally held in the direction of theturntable by means of a spring 201, one end of which is connected to the arm 199 and the other end to a fixed portion of the machine.

Starting and stopping mechanism.

202 designates a. controlling lever, the free end of which extends exterior of the machine and the function of which is to provide means for manually stopping the machine when it is desired to select some special selection contained in the record magazine, see Figs. 1, 2, 7, ,8=.and 9. At this time the arms of the transfer mechanism are in their vertical position ready toreceive the records of the magazine. The lever 202 is provided with an arm 203 which is in the path of the end of the lever 44 so that if the record magazine is not in alined position with respect to the transfer arms, the machine cannot be started, since when the machineis started, the roller 43 will be in engagement with the walls of a recess 42. The other operative arm 204 of the controlling lever 202. which in the position seen in Fig. 1, is

in the path of the dog 17, to move it out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 15 and thus cause the machine to stop with the transfer arms in vertical position.

205 designates a lever fulcrumed in the machine frame and having at one end a hook portion 206 which is adapted to engage a detent arm 207 rising from the detent lever 44. The opposite end of the lever 205 is provided with a roller 208 which is controlled by means of a cam 209 on the i rum 18.

Tin mom indicator or sign board.

I provide novel means for visibly and automatically indicating to the audience the title of the selection which is being played,

and in Fig. 19, I illustrate one form o'lwiring diagram which can be employed for this purpose.

210 and 211 designate name plates which visibly indicate the name of a selection, the name plate 210 serving as an indicator when the record magazine is movin in one direction and the name plate 211%eing brought into operation when the record magazine is being moved in a reverse direction. In the back of each name on the name plate, which is of transparent material so that a light will shine through it, are incandescent bulbs 212, and as indicated at 213 and 214, the circuit is closed with the contacts 215 and 216 by means of the lines 217,218, 219 and 220.

The same method is employed to effect the lighting of the name plate indicative of the selection on the opposite side of a record when the record magazine is'moving in a reverse direction, and a separate description of the light for each name plate is therefore deemed to be unnecessary and the con- 'necting wires for those after the third set of lights have been omitted. The lights indicative of the first record space in the cabinet and the lights indicative of the last record space in the cabinet are not controlled by the switch 221 so that the selection of each side of such records is visibly indicative and thus serves as a signal to indicate that the records are to be played at such time in a reverse order, one end of said switch being fixed to the lever 37 so that it is automatically actuated in accordance with the position of the record magazine. The switch 221 is in the position seen in Fig. 19 when the record magazine is moving forwardly in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 1. i

In order to close a circuit through the contacts 215.and 216, the record magazine has its carriage provided with the insulating rollers 222, which move downwardly the spring pressedcontacts 223, which are insulatedfrom their rail 50 by means of an insulating bushing 224. The contacts 223 are in alinement with the spring pressed contacts 225, which are of insulatingmaterial and provided with a contact plate 226 and are carried by a bar 227 supported in any desired manner by the frame 20. When the rollers 212 engage with the contacts carr ed by the rails 50, the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 21 and the circuit is closed, and when the rollers are not in engagement with such contacts, the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 20 and the circuit is open. When the 'swit h is in the positlon seen in Fig. 19, the name plate 211 is lighted and when it is in a reverse position, the name plate 210 is lighted.

The light indicative of the first record receiving space in the record magazine is lighted when the rollers 222 engage the contacts 228 and 229, in a similar manner to that already described with reference to the contacts 215 and 216.

The contacts 230, 231 and 232 are metallic contacts over which the switch 221 ridesto close the circuit therethrough.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that when the switch is in the position seen in Fig. 19, the circuit can only be closed through the lights on the name plate 211. When the switch 221 is in a reverse position, the circuit can only be closed through the lights on the name plate 210.

The operation of my sound reproducing mechanism will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and is as follows Operation of the record ejecting mechanism.

In describing the operation of the machine, I will describe it in the logical sequence in which the different steps are carried out and will assume that the record magazine has been filled with records and that the transfer arms are in their vertical position in a position to receive a record ejected from the magazine, see Fig. 3 as shown in dotted lines.

In this position, the arm 119 is pressing against the lug 112 ofvthe lower transfer arm 107 to retain it in its lowered position to receive the record.

I will assume that the record magazine is in registering position with the transfer arms so that its detent lever 44 is out of the path of the arm 203 of the controlling lever 202, thus enabling the operator to move the controlling arm 202 over the spring pressed detent 233 away from thestop 234 and thus move the arm 204 out of the path of the pawl 17, see Fig. 7.

It will be understood that this pawl 17 when disengaged from the internal ratchet 15 serves as a stop to prevent the operation of the machine. The electric motor 5 is continually running so that by means of the connecting mechanism, the gear 13 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 14 is continuously revolving. As soon, however, as the pawl 17 is thrown into engagement with the internal ratchet 15, see Fig. 3, the shaft 14 will begin to revolve and the pawl 17 is carried by the disk 16 fixed to the shaft 14. The wiper 66 fixed to the shaft 14 revolves with this shaft and the roller 67 enters a slot 68 in the star wheel 69 and imparts a quarter revolution to the gear 70. This transmits a full revolution to the gear 72, see Fig. 5, which causes the connecting rod 73 to be reciprocated. The rack 75 carried by the slide 74 rocks the ejector arm 77 and causes it to move downwardly between two adjacent record retainers, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1, and

the roller 79 carried by the ejector arm 77 will engage the periphery of the determined record and move it forwardly so that it rolls into the grooved transfer arms 107.

Operation of the transfer mechanism.

It will be understood that at this time, the lever arm 119 has engaged the lug 112 of the lower transfer arm, see dotted lines in Fig. 3, to move it downwardly, so that the record 58 can be received in such transfer arms. This action of opening or expanding the transfer arms has been caused by the action of the rock shaft 120 which has been rocked due to the arm 121 coming into engagement with the cam 123 on the drum 18 and as this drum continuously revolves, the roller 122 of the arm 121 is released by the cam so that the arm 119 moves away from the lug 112 of the lower transfer arm 107 and permits the spring 109 to draw the arms together, thereby clamping the record in the transfer arms; This closing of the transfer arms takes place just prior to the completion of the forward movement of the ejector lever 77 so that the record will be positively moved into proper position in the transfer arm. The wiper 84 carried by the shaft 14 is now revolving and the roller 86 will engage a slot 87 in the star wheel 88 and cause the car 89 to rotate onequarter of a revolution (see Fig. 1). This gear 89 is in mesh with a gear 90 which carries the mutilated gear 93 but which is constructed in such a manner that a quarter revolution is imparted to the transfer arms, turning them into a horizontal position, so that the transfer arms have imparted to them a half revolution and they are now in horizontal position above the turntable.

Operation of record positioning mechanism.

During the revolution of the drum 18, the cam 138 cooperating with the roller 137 rocks the lever 136 and thereby moves the registering pins 111 upwardly into a position to receive and support the record. Due to a dwell in the cam 138, the pins 111 remain in a raised position until the levers 116 move against the lugs 112 to cause the transfer arms 107 to open.

This opening of the transfer arms is caused by the cam 113 actuating the lever 114, the link 115, the rock shaft 117, and the arms 116. These transfer arms 107 remain open until the record is lowered on to the turntable. This accomplished by the downward movement of the pins 111 which is occasioned by the cam 138. At this time, the pawl 17 is moved out of engagement with the internal ratchet 15 by reason of the lever 180 contacting therewith. Just previous to this throwing out of the pawl 17, the drum 18 is moved into a position to cause the circuits of the motor 125 to be closed through the contact plate 139 and the brushes 141 and 142 (see Fig. 8). This starting of the motor 125 causes the turntable 129 with the record 58 thereon to revolve. The movement of the record causes the record to strike the pin 200, see Figs. 1 and 4, thus rocking the shaft 198 and causing its arm 197 to bear against the pin 196 and move its operative arm out of the path of the pawl 148, and in Fig. 9, it is shown out of the path of the pawl 148. If the machine was started and a record did not strike the pin 200 the machine would automatically stop, as is evident. The pawl 148 is moved by a spring into engagement with the internal ratchet 146 of the gear 144 which is now revolving and since this pawl 148 is carried by the disk 147, such disk will begin to revolve, together with the cams 149 and 150 carried thereby. As soon as the pawl 148 strikes the end of a lever 164, it is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet 146. and this disconnects the cam carrying disk 147 from operative engagement with the driving gear 144. At this time, the cam 149 has actuated the lever arm 152 which through the connecting elements 154, 155, 156 and 158 causes the cross bar 159 to move upwardly, thus permitting the sound box 174 to move downwardly until its stylus comes into engagement with the impression groove of the record at its starting point. At this time, due to the shape of the cam 150 the lever 161 has been rocked in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 9, thus permitting the pin 173 to move out of the path of the arm 169 which is carried by the tone arm so that the tone arm is free to move across the impression groove of the record in the ordinary manner.

As soon as the playing of the selection is completed, the stylus moves into the common circle of the record seen most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and at this time, the lever 169 contacts with the bell-crank lever 167 and trips the lever 164, the spring 165 of which now moves it toward the stop 163. allowing the pawl 148 to engage the internal ratchet 146 and the cams 149 and 150 revolve until they reach the position seen in Fig. 9, whereupon if the repeat key 187 is not in a set position, the lever 195.will trip the pawl 148, arresting the movement of the cam, as shown in Fig. 9.

Operation of sound boa" positioning mechanzsm.

During this revolution of the cams 149 and 150, the sound box has been returned to its initial or starting position due to the lever 161 rocking the shaft 171 and causing the pin 173 to bear against the arm 169 and m ve the tone arm and sound box back to its starting position. At the same time, while the lever 161 is returning to its normal position, the spring 165 moves the arm 164 until it engages with the catch of the bellcrank lever 167. i

It will be understood that prior to the return of the tone arm to its initial position, the sound box has been raised from the record, due to the cam 149 and its connecting -mechanism, as hereinbefore described.

Operation of transferring a record from the turntable to the record magazine.

Prior to the stopping of the disk 147 and its cam, the tooth 177 strikes the lever arm 178 and causes the lever 180 to permit the pawl 17 to move into engagement with the ratchet 15, thus starting the mechanism into operation which controls the transfer of the record from the turntable to its proper record retainer in the record magazine, which will be next described. The shaft 14 now starts to revolve, thus causing the circuit to be opened between the brushes 141 and 142. thus stopping the electric motor 125 and ar resting the rotation of the turntable. The rotation of the shaft 14 rotates the drum 18, thus causing the cam 138 to actuate the lever 136 and through the connecting mechanism. as hereinbefore explained, the pins 111 will move upwardly, carrying with them the record into a position to register with the grooves in the transfer arm and the pins remain in this position until the transfer arms close, due to the cam 113 on the drum 18 permitting the arms 116 to move away from -the lugs 112 and thus permit the spring 109 to effect the closing of the transfer arms on the record. The pins 111 now move downwardly into their normal or initial position. The record is now held in the transfer arms in a horizontal position above the turntable. The wiper 84 carried by the shaft 14 is now rotating and the roller 85 passes into a slot 87 of the star wheel 88, causing the gear 89 e to revolve one-quarter of a revolution in a contra-clockwise direction. This gear 89 act-uates the gear 90 and causes the shaft 91 to revolve and also the transfer mechanism carried thereby. The ratio is such between the gears 89 and 90 that a half revolution is imparted to the transfer arms, and due to the teeth on the mutilated gear 93, the transfer arms will be partially rotated so that they are now in vertical position, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and are in register with the proper grooves of the record magazine.

The drum 18 has now revolved into such a position that the cam 123 causes the shaft 120 to rock and the arm 119 will engage the lugs 112 of the lower transfer arm 107, moving it downwardly and permitting the rec- 0rd to roll from the transfer arm into its Operation of feeding the record magazine.

The next step in the operation is the advance of the record magazine one step. This isaccomplished by the cam groove cooperating with the roller 21 and actuating the lever 22 which causes a feed pawl 25 to engage a pin 41 and rotate the disk 39 one step. Just prior to this action, the cam 209 has actuated the roller 208 to raise the hooked end 206 of the lever 205, releasing it from the detent arm 207 of the detent lever 44, thus permitting the disk 39 to revolve, see Fig. 6.

The disk 39 is fast on the shaft 40 and carries the gear 46 which meshes with a pinion 47 on the feed shaft 48 of the record magazine, thus causing the record magazine to be advanced one step and to bring'the next record compartment into register with the transfer arms, which it will be understood are still being retained in a vertical position ready to receive the next record, see Fig. 8.

The cycle of the operation hereinbefore described is repeated until all of the records in the cabinet have been played on one side and the record magazine is now in a forward position.

Operation of reversing the feed of the record magazine.

As the record magazine reaches the forward end of its stroke, that is, during its last forward feed, the lug 83 carried by the carriage of the record magazine engages the arm of the lever 37 and trips this lever, and in Fig. 3, the lever is shown inits tripped position so that the-record magazine Wlll be fed in a rearward direction. It will be understood from this that when the pawl 36 is released from the lug 35 the driving mechanism for the disk 39 is in such a position that the carriage will be fed rearwardly, while when the pawl 36 is interlocked with the lug 35, then the parts are 1n such a position that the feed pawl 24 would be operative and the feed pawl 25 would be inoperative, see Fig. 7

When a record is returned to the record magazine it will be understood that due to its partial rotation, the opposite slde of the record will be in a position to be played when the record magazine is moving rearwardly. As soon as the record magazlne reaches nearly the limit of its rearward stroke, the lug 82 on the carriage of the record magazine actuates the lever 37 to permit the movement of the pawl 36 so that the carriage feeding mechanism is in position to feed the carriage forwardly.

Manual adjustment of record magazine.

It at any time, the operator desires to play some special selection, the record magazine can be adjusted to bring the return record into register with the transfer arm by manually actuating the handle 64 of the feed screw 48. This cannot be done when the machine is running, since during such period, the detentlever 44 is locked by the lever 205. In case, in adjusting the record magazine, the operator does not adjust it in such a position that the detent lever 44 is locked with the disk 39, the arm 203 of the controlling lever 202 cannot be moved to its starting or stopping position by reason of the tail of the detent lever 44 being in the path of the arm 203. By such construction, I have rendered the machine fool-proof and prevented any injury to the operating mechanism by an inexperienced operator.

Operation of the repeating mechanism.

If at any time, it is desired to repeat the selection which is being played, the operator moves the handle 188 into the position seen in Fig. 12, thus allowing the pawl 190 to interlock with the ratchet 189 and prevent the key 187 from being moved into its inoperative position by the spring 184, see Fig. 9. This retains the lever 195 out of the path of the pawl 148 thus permitting the disk 147 to revolve until the pawl 148 is thrown out by its engagement with the arm 164. This is the position in which the parts are adjusted when the playing ofv the record is begun. When a record is being repeated, the transfer mechanism is inoperative due to the lever 185 being retained in the path of the lever 180 by reason of the arm 186 carried by the key 187. This permits the movement of the bell-crank 118 when tripped but prevents the lever 180 from being moved from the position seen in Fig. 9, thus holding the pawl 17 out of engagement with the ratchet 15.

If the machine should be started when the transfer arms are in their vertical position and no record is in the transfer arms, the machine will stop as soon as the transfer arms are returned to their horizontal position above the turntable, since the pawl 148 cannot be tripped unless a record en gages the pin 200, as has hereinbefore been described.

Operation of the electrical sign-board.

It will be understood from the description of the electrical control of the record name plates that as the feed carriage advances step by step, the circuit is closed for each set of lights which causes the name of the piece to be visibly indicated which is being played on the turntable, and this automatic visibly indicated, and

I desired distance therefrom,

- tion, and while indicating mechanism is controlled by the movement of the record magazine, so that during the movement of the record magazine in its forward direction, the names of the pieces on one side of the record are during the travel of the'record magazine in a reverse direction,

'the names of the selections on the reverse side of the record are successively indicated on the name plate of the sign-board.

It, will be understood that these name plates may be secured to any desired portion of the machine or they may be placed any such as for example, on the walls of the room in which the machine is played.

When the rollers carried by the carriage of' the record. magazine close the circuit through the first set of contacts, it will be seen that the first set of lights on each name plate will be lighted, so that the'signboard will indicate the name of the selection on both sides of the record. The same action takes place when the record magazine reaches the end of its forward travel and the circuit closing rollers carried by the feed carriage of the record magazine engage the last set of contacts indicative of the record in the extreme rear compartment of the record magazine. i

It will now be apparent that I have de-v vised a novel and useful automatic talking machine, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the. invention and the above descrip- I have, inthe present instance, shownand described-a typical em bodiment of it. which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having what I claim as new and desire Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic talking machine, the combination of a rotatable turntable, actuating means for it, means to automatically place a record on said turntable. and dethus' described my invention, to secure by vices to arrest the rotation of said turntable and render its actuating means inoperative said devices being rendered inoperative by the contact of a record therewith.

2. In an automatic talking machine, the

I combination of a rotatable turntable,"actuating means for it, means to automatically place'arecord on said turntable, and means to automatically stop the rotation of said turntable when a record has not been placed on it, said means being rendered inoperative by the contact of a record therewith;

' 3. In an automatic talking machine, the combination of a rotatable turntable mountplace it on said combination of a rotatable turntable,

to hold the records in a vertical position,

and means to automatically remove a record from a side of said record magazine and turntable, and to return the record from said turntable to said magazinc in a reverse position from that which it occupied when first removed.

5. In an automatic talking machine, the combination of a rotatable turntable mount ed to revolve in a horizontal plane, actuating means for it, a record magazine adapted to receive a record in a vertical position, and means to automatically remove a record from a side of said record magazine and place it on said turntable and after the record is played to automatically remove it from said turntable and replace it in said record magazine.

6. In an automatic talking machine, the combination of a rotatable turntable mounted to revolve in a horizontal plane, actuating meansfor it,a record magazine adapted to receive a record in a vertical position, means to automatically remove a record from a side of said record magazine and place it on said turntable and after the record is played to automatically remove it from said turntable and replace it in said record magazine, and means to automatically feed said record magazine.

7 In an automatic talking machine, the

actuating means for. it, a record magazine adapted to receive a record in a vertical position, means to automatically remove a record from said record magazine and place it on said turntable and after the record is played to automatically remove it from said turntable and replace it in said record magazine, means to automatically feed said record magazine, and means to automatically reverse the feed of said magazine.

- 8. In an automatic talking machine, the combination of a rotatable turntable, a

motor to actuate it, a record magazine,

from said turntable and to replace it in and said magazine, devices to stop said motor during the transfer of a record to and from said magazlne, and means to automatically reverse the direction zine.

9. In a talking machine, a rotatable turn of feed of said magatable to receive a record and mounted to rotatable turntable to receive the record andadapted to revolve in a horizontal plane, a

. sound box, means to return the sound box to its starting position after one side of the record has been played, and means to auto-' matically reverse the position of the record; on said turntable to enable the immediate playing'of the reverse side of the record.

11. In an automatic talking machine, a rotatable turntable, actuating means for it, a record magazine having compartments to receive the record, an indicating board, and an electric current automatically cont olled by said record magazine-to-visibly in icate the names of-the selections on both sides of the record in the first andthe last compa-rtment of said magazine.

12. In an automatic talking machine, a

rotatable turntable, actuating means for it, a record magazine having compartments to receive the record, an indicating board, means automatically controlled by said record magazine to visibly indicatethe names of the selections on both sides of the record in the first andlast compartment-of said magazine, and an electric current automatically controlled to visibly indicate the names of the selections of the other records in said magazine in the order they are being played.

13. In an automatic talking machine, the combination with the sound reproducing mechanism, of a record magazine having vertically disposed compartments to receive records and provided with an open side through which a recordis ejected, means to automatically effect the feed of said record magazine step by step, a single ejector into alinement with which the record compartments are successively moved, transfer mechanism to transfer the recordsto and from said sound reproducing mechanism, and devices to effect the reversal of a record during the transfer operation.

14. In an automatic talking machine, the combination with the sound reproducing mechanism having a horizontally disposed turntable, of a record holder adaptedv to retain a disk record in a verticalposition, transfer mechanism to receive a record from a side of said record holder and place it in a horizontal position on said turntable, and devices to effect the reversal of a record duriug the transfer operation.

15. In an automatic talking machine, the combination with the sound reproducing mechanism having. a horizontally disposed turntable, of a record holder adapted to retain. a disk record in avertical position, and. transfer mechanism to receive a record from a side of'said record holder and place it in a horizontal position on said turntable an'dto transfer a record from said turntable and place it ina vertical position in said record holder withits'playing sides reversed.

16. In an automatic talking machine, the combination with the sound reproducing mechanism having a rotatable turntable, of

a ,record magazine to receive the records.

actuating means for the record magazine,

record ejecting devices. transfer mechanism to transfer an ejected record from said 'magazine to said turntable and to transfer a record from said turntable to said magazine and including relatively movable trans- ..fer arms,-a tension device. forsaid arms,

means to intermittently impart a partial rotation in a horizontal plane to said arms and also to cause said arms to 'he vertically disposed when in position to receivea record from said record magazine.

17. In an automatic talking machine, the combination with' the sound reproducing mechanism having a rotatable turntable mounted to revolve in a horizontal plane, a

at a record magazine to receive the records and retain them in a vertical position, actuating means for the magazine including a detent, record ejecting means to eject a record from a side of said magazine, trans.- fermechanism to transfer a record to and from said turntable, and a controlling device to render said detent operative during the playing of a record.

18.-In an automatic talking machine, a record magazine having vertically disposed record receiving compartments, means to intermittently feed said .magazine, and means to automatically eject a record from aside of said magazine and to partially ro' tate a record to cause it to be position d in a horizontal plane.

19. In a talking machine, a record maga-' zine through aside of which records are adapted to be ejected and having compartments to retain the records in a vertical position, and ejecting mechanism for the records, comprising the following instrumen= tallties; a Wiper, a. gear dr ven thereby, a rack operatively connected with said gear to be reciprocated by it, and an ejector arm 

